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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Asia’s most connected city (nearly 95 per
cent of homes have broadband internet)
is staking a major claim on the booming
Asia-Pacific MICE market. Late last year,
the Seoul Metropolitan Government
unveiled its master plan — three phases
that includes the establishment of the
Seoul Central MICE District with this
year’s debut of the space-age eco-friendly
Dongdaemun Design Plaza and, in 2018,
a new convention centre near Seoul
Station; the launch of a sports complex
in the COEX region of Gangnam; and
a new convention district Magok, near
Gimpo International Airport.
Mayor Park Won-soon’s goal is to
propel the metropolis into one of the
top five convention cities in the world.
DESTINATION
NEXT
The Global Association of the Exhibition
Industry already has Seoul on its radar
— it held its 80th UFI congress here
last November. And if the lead MICErs,
who advise other MICErs how to
MICE, MICE here, so perhaps should you.
BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND
According to Brad Foster, managing editor
of Australian business-events magazine
Micenet, the Sunshine State is the place to
hold your next conference. “Brisbane is
hoping to raise its profile internationally
when it hosts the G20 Summit later this
year, as is the Gold Coast, which will host
the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
“Since the opening of our $140-million
expansion in 2012, Brisbane Convention
& Exhibition Centre (BCEC) on Grey Street
is equal in size to the largest convention
centre in Australia,” BCEC general
manager, Bob O’Keeffe, told Micenet.
Brisbane also ranked in the top seven
most liveable cities in the world at the
2012 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, and
got a spot on the Top 10 Asian Cities of the
Future list (which covered Australasia) by
the UK’s Financial Times fDi Magazine.
Best of all, G20-day on 14 November, has
been declared a public holiday here.
DOHA, QATAR
Move over Dubai — the ICCA rankings
had the Qatar capital rocket up the charts
a mind-boggling 49 places in just a year.
M
uch has been said of our online presence; how gaining
followers on Twitter, likes on Facebook and reposts on
Instagram increases your visibility and, in turn, that
of your business. But when all is said and done, social
networking is, well, not particularly social. Where’s the contact?
Where’s the meeting of minds? Frankly, where’s the collectivism?
These basic human needs are what the MICE (meetings, incentives,
conferences and exhibitions) industry thrives upon. The International
Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) represents those in the
international meeting world who organise and accommodate gatherings
and events. It recently celebrated 50 years with a report looking at how the
industry has changed since 1963. And the findings were interesting. It seems
the number of meetings has doubled every decade, even through recessions.
Asia and the Middle East are on the rise in terms of desirable destinations,
but Europe is still the favourite (though its popularity arc is levelling out).
Looking back leads to the inevitable question: so, what lies
ahead? While you may need to wait another 50 years for the ICCA’s
comprehensive number crunch, we have your conferencing crystal ball
right here. And it may just reinvent the way you decide to do business.
Trevor McCartney, director of business
development of the Qatar National
development of the Qatar National
Convention Centre, reveals that since
Convention Centre, reveals that since
the centre’s opening in December 2011,
the centre’s opening in December 2011,
it has welcomed 176,915 delegates and
it has welcomed 176,915 delegates and
visitors. “ The economic impact generated
visitors. “ The economic impact generated
from overseas delegates currently stands
from overseas delegates currently stands
at $873.3 million,” he notes.
at $873.3 million,” he notes.
Qatar is investing heavily in the sector:
Qatar is investing heavily in the sector:
81 hotels are currently in operation, with
81 hotels are currently in operation, with
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